Alexandre Rocha*
São Paulo – The Brazilian Export and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex) plans to promote six events abroad this year, in partnership with the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce. Among the events are novelties like the organization of a delegation to visit three countries in North Africa, which should take place at the end of May. "This mission is strategic within our search for non-traditional markets, it will be fundamental this year," said to ANBA the coordinator of the unit of international events at the Apex, Juarez Leal.
The idea is to take to Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt businessmen in the food, civil construction, machinery, components for shoes, medical and dentistry equipment and cosmetics sectors. "We are going to prospect the market in sectors in which we are more competitive," stated Leal.
The president at the Arab Brazilian Chamber, Antonio Sarkis Jr., added that the countries in North Africa are currently living an intense industrialization process and many of them have trade agreements with the European Union, making possible the export of inputs and Brazilian technology for the finalization of products made there, with later sale on the European market. "This is the correct moment for this kind of partnership," stated Sarkis.
Agreements of the sort are already taking place. The Brazilian Association of Shoe and Leather Components Industries (Assintecal) has already signed agreements in Tunisia and Egypt to provide incentives to exports of raw materials for the shoe industry. Randon, a maker of trailers that is based in the southernmost Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul, has assembly lines in partnership with local businessmen in Morocco and Algeria.
Another two missions of the kind may take place in the second half, one to the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and another to Saudi Arabia. "Saudi Arabia is a market that has not yet been directly studied by us," pointed out Leal. "The business potential in the countries of the Gulf clearly shows the need to establish strong agreements in the region," added Sarkis.
Fairs
Apart form trade delegations, the Apex also plans to promote company participation in three fairs in the Arab world, also in partnership with the Chamber. At the Hotel Show, to take place in Dubai in June, the setting up of a stand similar to a loft is being discussed, to show furniture, granites and marble, ceramic tiles and Brazilian handicraft. "The idea is to promote synergy among these sectors," stated Leal. At the event, the Arab Brazilian Chamber may also have a space in association with the Brazilian Micro and Small Business Support Service (Sebrae).
In November there will be Big 5 Show, in Dubai, turned to the construction sector, where both organizations will also operate in partnership. Another fair turned to the field of construction is Rebuild Lebanon, to take place in Beirut in June, and that may also have Brazilian participation. The event calendar is subject to modification.
"It is very important for the Chamber to have this partnership with the Apex," stated Sarkis. According to him, the agency develops excellent work and has trained personnel. The joint activities, in his point of view, have been providing good results and are favouring business with the Arab world.
"There is good unity between our teams and opportunities are being opened both for Brazilian companies to do business in the Arab world, and for Arab companies to do business here," he added. Apart from foreign trade promotion actions, he pointed out that the partnership also involves the area of commercial intelligence, with the production of studies about the sectors with greatest business potential in the Arab world and in Brazil.
Further Chamber events
Apart from events in partnership with the Apex, the Arab Brazilian Chamber is participating this year in a series of other fairs. Among them Cairo International Fair, in Egypt, Tripoli International Fair, in Libya, and Project Qatar, in Qatari capital Doha, to take place in April.
In Tripoli, the Chamber will have a 30-square-metre stand and three companies should send representatives: Latinex, a food product trading company from Curitiba; Itatiaia Móveis, a furniture maker from the city of Ubá, in the southeastern Brazilian state of Minas Gerais; and Randon. Another five companies are going to send catalogues. In the sidelines of the fair, which is multisectorial, the Brazilian Beef Industry and Exporters Association (Abiec) is planning a barbecue for local importers.
At the fair in Qatar, the Chamber will have a 36-square-metre space and the presence of Vitrolar Metalúrgica, an ironworks from Mirassol, in the interior of São Paulo, has confirmed presence. Another 11 companies are going to send catalogues, all from sectors connected to civil construction and decoration.
This year the organisation will also be present in Algiers International Fair, in June, Damascus International Fair, in August, and will provide support to Brazilian participation in Index, the furniture fair to take place in Dubai at the end of the year.
Other countries
This year the Apex has also programmed actions in various other countries in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas. Among the novelties, Leal pointed out event Technologic Brazil, to take place in Mexico City, and to count on companies in the fields of medical and dentistry equipment, plastics, software, health services and electronic products. Another new activity will be Fashion Brazil, to take place in Tokyo, in October.
"Our intention is to take abroad greater added value products, be it due to design or innovation," stated Leal. The complete Apex activity calendar abroad may be checked at link: www.apexbrasil.com.br/interna.aspx?id=25
Further information
Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce
Marketing Department
Tel.: (+55 11) 3283-4066
E-mail: marketing@ccab.org.br
Apex
International Event Unit
Tel: (+55 11) 3426-0202
E-mail: atendimento-eventos@apexbrasil.com.br
*Translated by Mark Ament
